Wickes boss sparks fury as he says 'bigoted' shoppers concerned about trans rights 'not welcome in stores'
Wickes COO Fraser Longden and a Wickes store
Wickes/PA
Wickes’ chief operating officer has sparked a furious social media debate after branding gender-critical shoppers “bigots” who are “not welcome in our stores”.
Fraser Longden, the firm's chief operating officer, attended an online event hosted by Pink News on trans rights yesterday.
Longden said: “I don't think I'm ever going to change some of the bigots out there's minds, I'm never going to win that argument with them, so we were doing it to show support to the community.”
When asked about a potential boycott, he added: “The other ten per cent you know, they're just hot air and they will go and buy a tin of paint in the nearest place to them.
Wickes Home Improvement Centre at Cribbs Causeway near BristolPA“That might have been us before, it might not be us afterwards - and equally, if they do come in and buy a tin of paint and behave that way, they're not welcome in our stores anyway.”
Wickes had adapted its social media accounts in tribute to pride month, making its logo represent the rainbow colours associated with the LGBT flag.
The company also attended Brighton Pride last year.
Wickes brought along a large sign which said: “No LGB without the T.”
Wickes in Catford
Wikimedia Commons
Another banner read: “Ban conversion therapy for all.”
Following Longden’s intervention, Wickes Group PLC saw share prices drop by around four per cent.
However, an economist suggested the company’s financial woes were unlikely to have been caused by Longden’s comments about trans rights.
The Institute of Economic Affairs’ Julian Jessop said: “The latest fall inWickes share price isn't really down to the offensive comments from the COO - other companies in the building materials sector (e.g. Travis Perkins) have seen similar falls. But [it] would serve them right if it was.”
Former Olympic athletes Sharron Davies and Mara Yamauchi speak about the importance of maintaining female sporting categories
PA
Other people took to social media to respond to Longden’s remarks, with boycott Wickes trending.
Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies said: “So Wickes thinks anyone in the UK that thinks biological females deserve fair and safe sport is a bigot!
“That’s an lawful lot of mums, dads, grandparents, brothers and of course females who’ll be taking their bigoted business elsewhere.”
Another user added: “Wickes is now on my boycott list.
India Willoughby is evicted from the Celebrity Big Brother house
PA
“Their boss thinks people are bigots for refusing to believe trans women are women and doesn't want our business anymore if we disagree.
“Well, I'm sure many millions of us will be happy to oblige.”
However, transgender broadcaster India Willoughby took aim at gender-critical commentators.
She said: “Ridiculous terfs saying: ‘I was about to go to Wickes and spend £5k - not now’.
“They seem to have forgotten that 12 months ago to the day, they’d ALREADY vowed to boycott Wickes because of this display of solidarity with the trans community.”
Wickes told GB News: "At Wickes we are proud to be an inclusive home improvement employer and support the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety.
"We are committed to building a workplace and culture where all colleagues can feel at home."